Saturday, December 13, 10:00 am
Member with one child: $50
Guest with one child: $60
Each additional child: $25

Each December, Joanne Lamb Hayes’s eagerly awaited Gingerbread House Construction workshop is the Beard Foundation equivalent of Santa’s appearance at the end of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade or the Radio City Christmas Show. When gingerbread architect Hayes mixes icing mortar, applies chocolate spackling, or lays gumdrop roof tiles, it’s proof positive that caroling season is upon us.

In addition to her impressive gingerbread credentials—this is her 10th holiday appearance at the Beard House—Hayes is a freelance writer, food stylist, and culinary historian. Her work on staff at McCall’s and Family Circle, and as food editor for 14 years at Country Living magazine, has given her plenty of opportunity to explore American food, culture, and history. She holds a Ph.D. from New York University’s Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, is the co-author of seven cookbooks, and is the sole author of Grandma’s Wartime Kitchen: World War II and the Way We Cooked. Way back in 1984, Hayes contributed to The Gingerbread Book.

Gingerbread was once a treat enjoyed only by the aristocracy; spices were expensive, and great artistry, after all, comes at a price. The history books tell us that when Peter the Great was born, spectacular gingerbread creations were offered to celebrate his birth, including a gingerbread Kremlin that purportedly weighed in at close to 200 pounds!

Like any good old-fashioned barn raising, gingerbread construction at Beard House is a community event. Adults and children join together to plan, plaster, paint, and play. In short, a grown-up must accompany ALL little angels. After all, someone has to carry the masterpiece home, keep a watchful eye on the kids, and make sure that nibbling is kept to a reasonable amount.